Looking for answers to life's questions

Today is my birthday. I don’t make a big deal out of it. It’s one more and I’m grateful for each of them. I make it hard on my family because there is nothing I need or really want. I have an abundance of everything.

But this year I’ve given myself a gift. I hope it works out the way I planned it. You know how it is with plans.

Thanks again to the lovely sender of this gift. It’s given again with the photo

Today I’m hoping for the gift of greater vision. Literally. Well, maybe figuratively as well. I opted to ask for an eyelid lift. Only one eyelid. Genetically, I have heavy hooded lids anyway. Thanks Dad.

The eye that is still paralyzed from the Bells is the one I see with. The other eye works, sort of, but not well enough to read on its own. It would help me find my way out of a burning building so I take care of it too. It’s not paralyzed. The insurance approved this surgery because the lid was seriously in my field of vision.

I got this done in the office with a local. I’m back home again where I won’t be doing much looking for a while. I’ll have to sit quietly and let it heal. Not sure I know how to do that. This is not about vanity. It’s merely a practical need. At the end of the day, I can’t get the eye to stay open far enough to see the computer or sew. I can watch some TV but mostly, I listen to it in the background.

Before the surgery. I won’t gross you out with the recent after.

It did burn a bit when the doc put in the anesthesia and will be quite uncomfortable for a few days. Anyone who volunteers to do this for vanities sake is a stronger person than I. I’m not allowed to paint or work hard for the next 2 weeks. Darn. I’ll have time to read blogs. I hope. If you don’t hear from me, I’m busy healing and can’t read very much. So my wish for this year is more vision any way you slice it. I kept hoping it would heal on its own but that’s not happening fast enough. I’ve waited almost 6 years. This is it. Keep your fingers crossed.

Comments on: "In Search of a Gift" (78)

My time on WP has been limited these days. I pop on and off…how thrilled I am to have popped on and this was the first post I saw. Happy Birthday, Marlene! I hope you have a great day! Wishing you a speedy recovery from your surgery. xo

I wish you a very happy birthday, with speedy healing and enhanced vision.

Since my eye test in July my sight has been deteriorating, and I’ve just come home from a GP visit where he says I must have another test soon. I can’t see myself going back to the UK any time soon, so may have to brave the French service.

My vision has always been quite limited so I really can’t afford to lose much more. I did a lot of agonizing over doing this. Any surgery is always dangerous but I was at a point I needed a little help. Thank you for the good wishes. I hope all goes well with your tests. It’s hard getting older when little by little everything you enjoy gets stripped away.

Thank you. True blue indeed. That’s me all the way through. Now if they could just see something. 😦 I’m grateful I see at all but I’ve come to depend on the old blue eyes a whole lot. Thanks for the good wishes too. Hope your day is filled with wonder.

Marlene.. First wishing you a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY.. and you must rest your eyes and take time out for healing… It is a great gift you have given yourself Marlene.. Love and Healing thoughts your way xxx Hugs Sue xxx

Thank you Sue. Yes, a nap is on the docket today. Healing is clearing my primary focus. I’ve learned over the years, it’s the gifts we give ourselves that have the most impact. Appreciate the birthday wishes. Lots of hugs right back to you. :))

Thank you, Alicia. I think they have. As soon as the swelling goes down, I should see more clearly. They maybe I won’t struggle so hard to read everyone’s blog. Some I have to make really big to read and some, I just can’t see because of the colors they use. It has to be an early in the day kind of thing. I’ll come see you again soon.

Thanks so much dear friend. I have no choice but to rest. It’s pouring outside. Friends are coming by later and my sister too. It’s kind of nap time now. Yes, I’ll be recharging for a couple weeks till the sutures come out. 😦

Thank you so much E. It’s funny how I’ve just discovered that. I long ago quit expecting anything from others. My kids are great but when it comes to what I really want for myself, I have to take care of it. You have learned that sooner than I did. Book smart and world smart. 🙂

It seems to me this was not so much a birthday present as a present requirement! You are worth taking very good care of and the best person to do that is you. I am very happy to hear that you have done something good for yourself, no matter how you justified it. Give yourself the time required to heal, think beautiful thoughts of seeing your world clearly and be patient. How absolutely wonderful that soon you will see better and we will see both your beautiful blue eyes twinkling clearly.
Happy Birthday Marlene! I wish I was a little better organised and had sent you a card….. I am totally surprised it is September already! Please accept my virtual big birthday hugs xoxo

Thank you Pauline. As one Virgo to another, we try hard to be organized but somehow we set the bar quite high. I had planned to get a card in the mail for you as well. Maybe we will both do better next year. I am the one who must take care of me. And so the first step has been taken. Virtual hugs accepted and returned . Taking this time to catch up with my reading as much as a swollen eye will allow. I plan to be quite well behaved for the next two weeks. Vision is nothing to sneeze at. :))

Thank you Barb. You are a wonderful soul too. Being still is a foreign concept but I’m working on it. I’m always afraid I might run out of time to do all I want to do. Have a wonderful day and I’m so glad to see you back.

A very Happy Birthday to you, Marlene! I think your gift to yourself was the best gift you could have decided on and I hope you have a quick recovery.

I often think of my vision. there is so much I need my eyes for that I can’t imagine being without my sight. Take anything else, I can manage but not my vision. I am quite impressed with all you do, your quilting amazes me now that I know you have had such problems with your vision.

Yes, I gave myself on present just over a decade ago. I had laser surgery done to correct my vision. I haven’t regretted it once, and now I don’t fret over the possibility of blindness.

That gift of good vision is so vital to us with all we want to accomplish. I’m glad you had that done for yourself. I’ve struggled with mine since childhood but the Bells added a new dimension to the difficulty. I can’t even begin to explain the vestibular integration problem that was caused by the Bells. It’s in the brain and don’t know if it will ever heal. Gets tiny bits better but still always there.

Happy birthday, Marlene. I’m sorry for the present discomfort you’re in and the reasons behind it, but at the same time happy to hear you could do something to fix it. Hurray for better eye site in your very near future.

I hope you’ll celebrate, too, the slowing down for a bit. Savor the time and be good to yourself. I’ll cross fingers for torrents of rain, so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the sounds and smells, knowing that you couldn’t be outside anyway painting, staining, digging or otherwise working in your garden.

If I had a magic wand, my gift for you today would be a complete reversal of the Bells. xox

Oh now Alys, that would be a wish come true. Thank you so much. Quiet time will help that a lot. I relish it oddly. I do appreciate down time more than anyone would guess. Took my embroidery machine in yesterday and someone finally agreed with me. It’s always been broken. I wasn’t an idiot. So I can finally get a few things made after I pick it back up. I’ll be reading blogs I’m behind on while I sit and do nothing. :)We’ve had some nice rain today. Trying to send it your way. I’m looking forward to more vision.

What a great gift you’ve given yourself! It’s unfortunate that things needed to get worse before they get better, but you must be seeing progress already, I hope? Happy birthday–be extra good to yourself!

Thank you Kerry. I’m sure I’ll see improvement soon. First the swelling must go down a bit. Being extra good to myself is always a struggle 😦 It’s not in my nature but I’m working on it. Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day yourself.

Thank you so much and also for letting me know where you found me. I try to check out followers of most of the blogs I follow. That’s where I find my “friends” It’s so much fun to meet new people. Thanks for stopping by.

Happy belated birthday, beautiful! !! I’m so sorry I missed it…but I love your present to uourself…and ah! The gift of vision…no matter how we view those words is a wonderful gift indeed!!! I send you beautiful healing energy…and patience as I know you will be itching to get out there and finish painting!! Much love dear friend ♡♡

Thanks so much, Lorrie. The bets are on as to how long I last sitting quietly. I’m enjoying the time to read a bit but it leaves too much time to feel the itch of healing, :)) Thank you for stopping by any time. No one is ever late,

Thank you so very much. I am mending nicely but frustrated that I can do nothing for a full week or two. I’m a doer, not a sitter. 😦 I didn’t plan to use my birthday for healing but that’s when they could do it and it took 3 months to get the appointment. Hope all is well in your corner. Haven’t seen a post in awhile. Maybe I’m not getting them again.

Ah well, what IS, IS…I spent one year over Christmas in hospital and it felt very unworthy of celebration 🙂 Please to hear you are on the mend though x No, haven’t posted for a long time but expecting to soon. Such a marathon with my new computer which has stopped working properly but the only one my camera will work on, I have to post photos to myself to download on the other one. 🙂 Tis a pain.

Hello Marlene! I’m so glad that I found a moment to stop by and to learn about your gift! It’s been 5 days since you posted, and I’m hoping that the healing is proceeding quickly but thoroughly.
Happy belated birthday!

Congratulations on completing another trip round the sun, Marlene! And think of the beautiful scenery available to you for your next whirl around? I think it’s a brilliant gift to give yourself.
I hope you heal quickly and that the newfound site brings you great happiness and joy. Here’s to seeing all that life has to offer, and living to write about it.
Cheers!

Belated Happy Birthday Marlene! And what a great way to celebrate it! Your special day was filled with blessings and good wishes, and that made it very special indeed.
I really hope you are healing well, and as you know, the best way to do that is to relax and enjoy, while appreciating the gift of time.
I wish you a speedy recovery.

Thank you so much Clare. When it comes to the eyes, I take no chances and do exactly as I’m told. I have spent an entire week sitting and doing very little. Even reading is a bit of a challenge right now but getting better each day. Thank you for stopping by and have a wonderful week ahead.

Happy belated birthday to you, my friend. What a fabulous gift you have given yourself. I’ll look forward to seeing the “after” pictures and hearing of all the things that you will be more easily able to read.

Thank you, Missy. It’s a great gift to myself but not much of a way to celebrate. No lifting, bending etc. for a couple weeks. I have work to do!!! The black an blue is starting to go away.I’ll be sure to post photos.

A very Happy Birthday to you, Marlene! So we are both in recovery from eye surgery. May your healing be as successful as mine. Rest plenty and follow the rules, that is my mantra. Like you I am forbidden to carry or lift anything heavy and vacuum is out of the question for a month. I am on a self imposed go slow with blog posting reading for the duration. I would hate to do anything that would to spoin the progress so far. healing hugs, GM

Sounds like your surgery was more critical than mine. I wish you all the best in your recovery as well. I have followed all the rules as vision is nothing to mess with. Thank you for stopping by and the birthday wishes. I am so ready to get on with it. Reading has been difficult and short these last 2 weeks. Soon.;)

Oh Marlene! Here I am late to the party (again) and just discovered that I missed this post. I hope by the time you read this you are doing fabulously. A very belated happy birthday and I am certainly glad that you gave yourself such an amazing gift. Judging from your next post it would seem that things must be going well since you are back to reading or is that also an effort to take it easy? I know you are usually quite busy. (Not that reading isn’t busy but it does cause us to sit down and take it a bit easier when we focus on the task at hand). Please be sure to keep us posted on your progress. Hugs to you always!♡♡♡

Thanks for the good wishes, Jan. Tuesday the sutures come out and the ointment will no longer be necessary. It make the vision blurry when it leaks into my eye. I count on spell check to underline in red so I know if I’ve typed something incorrectly. I have done none of the things I normally do so Tuesday will be a welcome day. Don’t worry, I’m ALWAYS late to the party too. :))Hugs to you my friend.

I missed your birthday. That makes me sad. But then, I wouldn’t have known it was coming up, even *if* I had been more timely reading your posts, so I wouldn’t have been able to send a card in time anyhow. I know you will accept a late one, so off it goes!

My mother’s birthday is September 3, and her twin brother – my Uncle Mike – and now you are another Virgo that I have the honor to get to know.

You have been talking about getting the eye surgery for some time, and I realize you must have been weighing the idea all this time. I do not like surgery for one thing, and I do not like anything near my eyes for another thing. You are brave brave brave, but I realize your bravery was helped by declining vision. Well. Thank goodness you had the opportunity, and I am so eager to hear how it went. I hope your face isn’t black and blue anymore. I’ll bet the “after” photo would have been awful to see (but I would have giggled a little bit, because I’m wicked that way).

Oh, Crystal, do not worry a bit about the birthday. There will probably be another next year. 🙂 With some luck of course. I’ve actually considered the lift for years. My dad had both eyes done for the same reason. Lids drooping into the field of vision. They only did one on the paralyzed eye and I’m not sure it’s helped a lot. Not something to go into lightly. Yes, I was nervous about them messing with the only good eye I have to see. The other doesn’t work worth a darn. I did get a push from those that thought it would help more. Black and blue are gone mostly but still some swelling. Not a great way to spend my birthday but I didn’t get to pick the day. 😦 So you have Virgos in your family. They are a force to be reckoned with aren’t they? 🙂 Picky, picky, picky.

I have only just seen this, Marlene, so I hope you had a happy birthday and I also hope that by now your eye has healed and it has been worth the pain and discomfort of having it done. I am so grateful to you for saying you would read and review my book; I don’t know if you have the kindle version or the paperback. At least the kindle enables people to read larger print. I sent my partially-sighted friend a kindle because she has difficulty getting hold of large-print books. It has opened up a whole new world of books for her.

Thanks so much for stopping by, Jeanette. I’ve needed to write a follow up but just have not figured out what to say. It was not all that painful. Minimal discomfort but a bit of swelling kept the eye from seeing clearly for a bit. Getting better each day and I am back to catching up with others posts before writing another of my own. I do have a kindle and a tablet to read on. They are so handy for those of us with limited sight. Then there is the blessed audio book. Your book sounds quite interesting so I’ll get at it soon. I love winter so I have more time for such things.